Chapter 71 A bird-catcher was setting traps upon a meadow when a lark, who was watching from a distance, asked him what he was doing.“I’m building a colony,” he said, “and I’m laying the foundations for my first city.”After he finished his work, the man retreated to a nearby spot and hid himself. Meanwhile, the […]
Chapter 70 While roaming about in search of food, a wolf passed a door where a child was crying and his nurse was chiding him. As the wolf stood listening, he heard her say, “If you don’t stop crying this instant, I’ll put you outside, and the wolf will get you.”Thinking the old woman would
Chapter 69 A long time ago a lion fell in love with a woodcutter’s daughter and demanded to marry her. The woodcutter was not very pleased by this offer and declined the honor of such a dangerous alliance. When the lion showed his royal displeasure and threatened the poor man, however, the woodcutter realized that
Chapter 68 Jupiter, Neptune, and Minerva (so the story goes) once had a contest to determine which one could make the most perfect thing in the world. Jupiter made a man; Minerva made a house; Neptune made a bull. And Momus – for he had not been banished from Olympus yet – was chosen to
Chapter 67 There was once a man who had an ass and a beautiful Maltese lap dog. The ass was kept in a stable and had plenty of corn and hay to eat. Indeed, he was just a well off as any ass could be. The little dog stayed in the house and was a
Chapter 66 A fox, who was hard-pressed by some hounds during a hunt, approached a man who was cutting wood, and begged him to provide him with a hiding place. The man pointed to his own hut, and the fox crept inside and concealed himself in a corner. Soon the hunters arrived and asked the
Chapter 65 At a great meeting of the beasts a monkey stood up to dance, and his performance delighted all those present so much that they honored him with great applause. Such praise infuriated the camel, who stood up and tried to show up the monkey with his own dancing. He made such a fool
Chapter 64 A farmer was carelessly driving his wagon along a muddy road when his wheels became stuck so deep in the clay that the horses came to a standstill. Consequently, the man dropped to his knees and began to pray for Hercules to come and help him without making the least effort to move
Chapter 63 A stag whose joints had become stiff with old age fell sick and decided to lie down on the rich grass of a meadow close to some woods so that he might be able to graze more easily. Since he had always been a friendly and good neighbor, many beasts came to visit
Chapter 62 A blind man could distinguish any kind of animal simply by touching it. One time, some friends wanted to test him and brought him a wolf’s whelp.After feeling it all over, the blind man was not entirely certain about the animal, but said correctly: “I’m not sure whether your father was a dog
Chapter 61 One day a leopard and a fox had a contest to decide who was the handsomer of the two. The leopard boasted about the beauty of its innumerable spots. But the fox replied, “You may have beautiful spots, but it’s better to have a versatile mind than a variegated* body.”Beware! The good-looking may
Chapter 60 An old woman found an empty wine bottle that had once been filled with choice wine and still retained the fragrant smell of its former contents. Though not a drop of the choice wine remained, the old woman pressed her nose to the top of the bottle as close as she could, and
Chapter 59 Hearing that a hen was laid up sick in her nest, a cat paid a visit out of sympathy. After creeping up to her he said, “How are you, my dear friend? What can I do for you? Do you need anything? Just tell me, and I’ll bring you anything in the world
Chapter 58 A mule had grown fat and wanton from his huge daily rations of corn, and one day, as he was jumping, kicking, and gamboling about the fields, he thought to himself, “My mother must surely have been a thoroughbred racer, and I’m quite as good as she ever was!”But he was soon exhausted
Chapter 57 A tortoise was dissatisfied with his lowly life and with crawling about on the ground at a snail’s pace. He envied the birds, which could soar high into the cloud whenever they desired. He thought that, if he could but once get up into the air, he would be able to fly with